Silkworm journey

[Sonny13]

Wouldn't the bee pollen incentivize them to eat the moss?

It’s btw no powder, more the coarser fractions.

 

[Sonny13]

Not uncommon with feeders. I have dubias that are now over a year old. Some are adults capable of breeding, yet there are a few that—unless the adults have bred at room temp (low 70s)—are the same size as they were a year ago.


Insect version of failure to thrive? Generally, in nature, the lower on the food chain and/or the more fecund a species, the more likely offspring will not reach maturity. And I would think at that stage they're likely pretty fragile anyway. BICBW

Good point Thanks for the clarification

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Good one, don’t know . Can’t notice that moss is eaten. Also got dubia’s and locusts in there.

Huh. I'm a little surprised some of those aren't eating the others.

 

[Sonny13]

Huh. I'm a little surprised some of those aren't eating the others.

So far non eating of each other. The dubia’s are all buried in the soil. The locusts are small and just eating leaves.

The dead silkworms have no bite marks, they all look like they’re digested from the inside.

 

[Sonny13]

Holy chubby

 

[MissSkittles]

Yay! My eggs have hatched! First time eggs I’ve bought have actually hatched.

 

[Sonny13]

Yay! My eggs have hatched! First time eggs I’ve bought have actually hatched.

Congrats

After this badge is consumed, I’m next trying to hatch some eggs.

@redhorse it’s going to be an extremely educational thread

 

[Firewallx]

Congratulations @MissSkittles, they are cute. I would like to share some photos too,:
1. The head capsule is hanging from his face
2. A silkworm just after molting to the fifth instar. I never catch them in the act.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

@redhorse it’s going to be an extremely educational thread

+1. I may consider trying raising some myself.

 

[dinomom]

Yay! My eggs have hatched! First time eggs I’ve bought have actually hatched.

Be careful, or you will end up with this. Duh, I hatched a few too many....

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Be careful, or you will end up with this. Duh, I hatched a few too many....

Well... there's always the classified forum!

 

[Firewallx]

@dinomom when "holy shit" doesn't quite cover it.

 

[MissSkittles]

Be careful, or you will end up with this. Duh, I hatched a few too many....

I just might. Thought I had ordered 250 eggs...label says 500! Plus I have 100 medium silkies due to arrive in the next day or two! I thought the eggs wouldn’t hatch, as the ones I’ve ordered in the past never did. Gonna be up to my eyeballs in silkies!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I just might. Thought I had ordered 250 eggs...label says 500! Plus I have 100 medium silkies due to arrive in the next day or two! I thought the eggs wouldn’t hatch, as the ones I’ve ordered in the past never did. Gonna be up to my eyeballs in silkies!

Sounds vaguely familiar...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/ahh-im-up-to-my-armpits-in-roaches.177567/

 

[MissSkittles]

Sounds vaguely familiar...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/ahh-im-up-to-my-armpits-in-roaches.177567/

Thankfully all of my reptiles enjoy silkies. I plan to let a good number live out their silkie lives and replenish my egg supply. No guarantees though that you won’t see in the news, “ Florida woman caught in local pet stores feeding the animals”.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I plan to let a good number live out their silkie lives and replenish my egg supply.

You realize that could algebraically (vs. geometrically) exacerbate the situation, right?
Or are you mayhaps contemplating DIY silk sheets & draperies?

 

[MissSkittles]

You realize that could algebraically (vs. geometrically) exacerbate the situation, right?
Or are you mayhaps contemplating DIY silk sheets & draperies?

Yes! I’ve got my spinning wheel and loom on order from Amazon.
I store the eggs in the fridge and then take some out when I want/need.

 

[redhorse]

Wow! all these wonderful pics and stories. Great success too! Thanks for sharing.
Maybe I have to much time on my hands..
Well, I decided to try some different foods and will place about 20 babies in the mixes.

1. Mulberry mix with carrots and zucchini
2. Mulberry mix with carrots only
3. Mulberry mix with zucchini only
4. Mulberry mix only ( I will keep a group in this alone).
I will add some mango once they get a little bigger.

Crossing fingers they will all still be alive in the A.M.

Note: I boiled all the veggies and mulberry mix separate, then added and smashed mixes together.

 

[Sonny13]

Wow! all these wonderful pics and stories. Great success too! Thanks for sharing.
Maybe I have to much time on my hands..
Well, I decided to try some different foods and will place about 20 babies in the mixes.

1. Mulberry mix with carrots and zucchini
2. Mulberry mix with carrots only
3. Mulberry mix with zucchini only
4. Mulberry mix only ( I will keep a group in this alone).
I will add some mango once they get a little bigger.

Crossing fingers they will all still be alive in the A.M.

Note: I boiled all the veggies and mulberry mix separate, then added and smashed mixes together.

Great experiment, excited to read the outcome.

I’ve have just added red pepper and cabbage to the vegetable list.

 

[dinomom]

Great experiment, excited to read the outcome.

I’ve have just added red pepper and cabbage to the vegetable list.

In order to fully test the theory you will have to label the cocoons and then see if the resultant moths can reproduce. It may be that they can "survive" on other foods but not live to reproduce. Possibly something due to the protein percentage they require in order to spin.